Minneapolis frame builders Peacock Groove have taken the best in show award at the North American Handmade Bicycle Show. Their Prince-inspired purple folding bike was a special commission from Anna Schwinn, the great-great-granddaughter of the Schwinn Bicycle Company founder.
Christened the Purple Reign in honour of the recently departed funk superstar Prince, it featured the lyrics ‘baby you’re much too fast’ cut into the brake rotors, along with a host of Prince symbols integrated across the bicycle.
Paul Components custom anodised a unique lever mounted thumb-shifter and disc calipers to match with the purple colour scheme. Campagnolo and Chris King completed the adventure-travel orientated build.
The frame’s creator Erik Noren was surprised to first win the award for best bicycle theme, and even more shocked and elated to be recalled to the stage to accept the overall award for best in show.
Despite the work that went into the bike both its creator and owner are adamant that it won’t just be a showpiece. Its S&S couplings hint at a design that’s far to practical to simply be hung on a wall.